Liquid dispensing machine



Aug. 15, 1933- F. D. CHAPMAN LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORv mat/449 M ATTORNEYeS.

g- 1933- F. D. CHAPMAN LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 15,1933. CHAPMAN 1,922,356

LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

vtank,.and these joints and packings were a source Patented Aug. 15, 1933 es PA'lE NT OFFICE i 1,922,356 A IQLI UID DISPENSING MACHINE V Frank D. Chapman, Berlin, Wis. Application June 6, i932. Serial Na -615,55? V 8 Claims.

\The presentinvention relates in general to iniprovementsin the, art of dispensing fluent substances, and relates more specifically to improve: ments initheconstruction and operation of mac'eptacles.

Generally defined, object of invention is toprovide an improved liquid dispensing machine which is simple in construction andefiicient inoperation.

It haslong lbeen common practice in the canning industry, to utilize so-calledbriners or syrupersfor, delivering liquid to successive empty or partially filled cans as they 1 were advanced 51 through the machines. In these prior machines,

the successive{cans were elevated as they advanced along. a definite path, and during this elevation, the can topswere sealed by engaging vertically movable; sealing blcckswith which the valves for controlling the delivery of liquid were chinesfor supplying liquid to a succession of reassociated. By virtue of the, fact that the can top-seals of these prior deviceswerevertically movable; by the rising cans, telescopic joints and packings were required between the liquid delivery valves or nozzles and the liquidjsupply of constant annoyance due to theiact thatthey became leakyor necessitated frequent attention in orderto avoid undesirable leakage.- The relative verticalmovement of the seals and cans, is

necessary in. order to accommodate cans of dif ferentheight andto prevent damaging the relatively frail upperican edges, especially when sanitary-cans are used and while the prior machines properly cooperated with the can tops, theyntilized extremely-,complieated and non-leak-proof structure for accomplishingthe desired results.

It is a more specific object of the present inventioni to, provide an improved briner which will properly ,coactwithlthesuccessive cans to which liquid is being supplied, and wherein objectionable leakage. and waste of liquid areentirely, eliminated. i

Another specific object of the inventionls to i provide a can filling machine in. which; scaling is effectedby elevatinglthe cans againstfixedresilientsealingblocks, and wherein differences in can ling the deliveryof liquid from a source of sup- 1 ply; to the successive]; receptacles as they: are transported throughaliquid dispensing machine. Fig-9 is a likewise enlarged central vertical Stillanother specific object of the invention is to provide an improved assemblage especially ap-v plicable to jreceptacl'e fillers, wherein the commodity handled is delivered from the source of supply only when "a receptacle has been properly positionedfor reception of a batch of the commodity. e i

Another specific object of the invention is to provide improved means for venting cans or the like, during filling thereof, and means for preventing undesirable, splashing of liquid, delivered to the successive cans. a

A further, specific object of the invention is to provide a sanitary can filling machine which willfill either emptyor partially pre-filled successive cans of a series, automatically and in a highly effective manner.

'I'hese andfother objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed descrip-, tion. I i I A clear conception of embodiments of the several features constituting the present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of-operating a liquid dispensing machine built iniaccordance therewith'may be hadby referring to the draw-- ings accompanying and forming a partof this specification in which like reference characters. designate the same or similar parts in the various views,

Fig. l is an approximately central vertical section through one of the improved liquid dispensing machines;

V Fig. 2 is aifull top view of the liquid dispensing machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the liquid 90 dispensing-machine, taken directly above the can hooks in,Fig. 1 and lookingdown upon the can supports; e e

. Figs 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectionthrough onelof the can. supports and the dispensing mech--' anism associated therewith, showing the action whennocan is in position to receive liquid;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side. view of one of the can supports, showing the mechanism for positively causing the same'to drop aiterfilling of an elevated can has been effected; i

Fig. 6 is anenlarged fragmentary section 10f aportion of the dispensing valve actuating mechanism; q

Fig. 'iis a further enlarged partsectional top view. of oneof the liquid dispensing valves;

section through the dispensing valve, showing the same in open position.

While the invention will be described herein as being specifically applied to a briner for delivering brine or syrup to successive tin cans, it is not intended to thereby limit the scope, and the several novel features are obviously more generally applicable to liquid dispensing machines for delivering any kind of liquid to receptacles of various types.

Referring to the drawings, the improved briner comprises in general an annular series of six vertically movable can supports 10 slidably asso ciated with a rotor 11 which is revolvable about a fixed central shaft 12'secured to a main frame 13; an annular series of six integrally connected can hooks 14 secured to and revolvable by the rotor 11 in unison with the supports 10; a rotary horizontal can feed disk 15 and stationary guides 16 cooperable therewith to feedthe entering cans 17 upon the successive supports 10 and into the path of travel of the hooks 14; a rotary horizontal can discharge disk 18 and stationary guides 19 cooperable therewith to deliver the successive filled cans 17 from the machine; a brine supply tank 20 rotatably suspended from the fixed shaft 12 by means of a carrier 21 which is drivingly connected to the rotor 11 by propelling rods 22; a series of six dispensing valves 23 revolvable with the tank 20 and having actuating mechanism operable by the can supporting and elevating devices; and mechanism for driving the rotor 11, the carrier 21, and the disks 15, 18.

The can supports 10 have plunger like upper ends which lie flush with the upper surface of the rotor 11 and against adjustable stop screws 23 when the cans 17 are being received by and delivered from the can hooks 14, and which are elevated above the rotor 11 and away from the stop screws 23' during the filling or dispensing operation. The supports 10 are also provided with hollow hubs or stems 24 which slidably engage openings in the driving portion 25 of the rotor 11 and within which elevating rods 26 are located. The elevating rods 26 are disposed centrally within their corresponding support stems 24 and are splined tothe stems 24 by keys 2'? so as to prevent relative rotation while permitting relative sliding of these parts. The lower ends of the elevating rods 26 carry rollers 28 which ride upon an annular rail 29 secured to the main frame 13, and the lower ends of the can support stems 24 coaot with the upper extremities of coil springs 30 which embrace the rods 26 and react at their lowerextremities against nuts 31 coacting with the lower threaded portions of the rods 26, see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The rail 29 has an elevated portion 32 of greater height than the remainder of the rail, the high and lower rail portions being connected by inclined portions 33 one of which is provided with a secondary track 34 adapted to engage the nuts at the inner end of the shafts which support the rollers 28, in order to maintain these rollers in contact with the adjacent rail portion 33 while they are approaching the can delivery side of the machine. The rods 26 are slidable within the stems 24 when the cans 17 are brought into filling position by the rollers 23 coacting with the rail 29, and the medial portions of the stems 24 and rods 26 are provided with alined slots through which levers 35 extend, the levers 35 being disposed radially relative to the fixed shaft 12 and having their outer ends pivotally attached to the stems 2 4 and slidably associated with guides 36 secured to the lower portion 25 of the rotor 11. The levers 35 are adapted to be swung about their supporting pivots, when the rods 26 are moved relative to their confining stems 24, and the inner swinging ends of the levers 35 are provided with lateral projections 35' which are adapted to actuate the control valves 23 in a manner to be later explained.

The can hooks 14 are supported from the upper portion of the rotor 11, being revolvable by the rotor concentrically of the fixed shaft 12, and the rotor 11 is supported upon the main frame 13 through a thrust bearing 37. The rotary horizontal can feed disk 15 is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 38 which is journaled in a part of the main frame 13, and which has a gear 39 attached thereto. The rotary can discharge disk 18 is likewise mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 40 journaled in a part of the main frame 13, and having a gear 41 attached thereto in the horizontal plane of the gear 39. The gears 39, 41 mesh with a pinion 42 secured to a vertically adjustable counter-shaft 43 journaled in the main frame 13, and the gear 39 also meshes with gear teeth 44 formed integral with the lower driving portion 25 of the rotor 11. The direction of rotation of the feed and discharge disks 15, 18 is as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the stationary can guides 16, 19 are supported from the main frame 13 so as not to interfere with the rotation of the disks 15, 18.

The carrier 21 which supports the brine supply tank 20 is rotatably suspended from a vertically adjustable two-piece bearing block 45 coacting with the threaded upper end 46 of the fixed shaft 12, and is held against lateral displacement by this fixed central shaft. The driving rods 22 of the carrier 21, slidably engage holes in the rotor 11, so that the carrier 21 may be adjusted vertically with the aid of the block 45 without interrupting the driving connection with the rotor 11. The upper and lower sections of the block 45 are provided with projections 4'7 for facilitating rotation thereof, and the hub 48 of a bracket arm 49 also engages the threaded rod end 46 above the upper locking section of the block 45. The outer end of the arm 49 supports a brine supply pipe 50 having a float controlled inlet valve 51 therein and having a discharge end directed into the supply tank 20. The opening and closing of the valve 51 is controlled by a float 52 which rides upon the liquid in the tank 20, the float 52 being normally held fixed while the tank 20 is normally revolving. The tank 20 is circular in horizontal cross-section, and has an annular series of six pockets 53 extending downwardly from its bottom, the dispensing valves 23 being located directly beneath these pockets 53.

The liquid dispensing valves 23 are constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, each of these valves having a rubber seating ring 54 cooperable with a metal seat 55 secured to the corresponding pocket 53. Each valve 23 is hollow and is suspended from the lower end of a vent pipe 55' the upper end of which is pivotally attached to the outer end of a lever arm 56. The lower hollow cylindrical end 5'7 of each valve 23 is guided in the central bore of a splash preventing plate 58 disposed beneath the valve discharge orifice, and a screen 59 is held within each of these hollow cylindrical ends 57 by means of a snap ring 60. The splash plates are attached to the seats 55 by means of local ribs 61, and the valves 23 have vanes 62 for guiding them within the'tubular portions of the seats 55. The tubular portions 01. the seats- 55' are embraced by rubber sealpads or blocks 63 which are mounted in retainers 64 securedto.the carrier 21 at the lower ends-of thepockets 53,and these blocks 63 are .formedof soft rubber adapted toengage andto.

. tightly seal the marginal upper edges of the cans 1'7. ,Thefinner end portionsiof the lever arms 56 are constructed as shownin-detail in Fig.6; be-

ins provided with hollowhubsohloosely embracing the valve actuating rods66 which are .ver-

tically slidably supported in the. carrier -21 and the upper end of each hu"b 65 and th e lower flange of a sleeve 68 which is verticallyadjustably attached to the adjacent rodtfifi by a pin 69,=these springs 67 constituting resilient connections between the lever arms 56- and their corresponding actuating rods 66. Adjustable stop screws 70 are mounted in brackets 71 secured to a plate '71 attached tothe inner upper'edge of the tank 20, and

these screws "70 are adapted toengagethe inner endsof the leverarms 56'to limit thevupward movement thereof by the rods 66. The lower extremities ofthe rods 66 are engageable with the projections 35' of the levers 35, so that the valves as are opened when the-corresponding levers .35

made thelerigth of each actuating rodififi is ad- "venting-escape. ofliquid.

n The rotor ll carrier 21 and disks15f18 are rotatable bya pinion Which is carriedby a vertical shaft '75 and meshes with the teeth 44 formed onthe lower frotor portion 25. The shaft '75. is journaled infthe main frame 13 and also carries abevelgearr76 ;which meshes with an? other bevel gear "Zjsecured to the inner end of the horizontal power sl1aft9'13d The powershaft- 78 is mounted in bearings carried by the main frame 13, and carries apulley 79 which maybe drivinglyconnected to this shaft by a clutch 80 operable by acontrol lever 81, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. y The operation of this lever 81 will obviously start and stop the pritixe machine and thesuc-' cessive. cans 1 7 may be delivered to, and from the ner fThe fioatw normally controls the valve 51 During normal operation of" the improved 71517? its supporting pivot on the stem 24, thereby proh printer, and assumingthat'the machine is in normal operating condition as' above indicated, the

successive cansll are, delivered onto thesupportslo and into the path of the corresponding can books 14, by the feed disk 15 and the guides 16 cooperating therewith As the supports 10 rods 26' proceedalong'lthe rail 29, the cans 1'7 are elevated by the inclined track portion 33 nearest the disk 15 and are brought into engage ment .with the. adjacent sealing blocks '63; As

of the corresponding support .10 is arrested and continued upward movement of the corresponding rod 26 is accommodated by compression of the spring 30. This relative movement between the rod 26 and the "corresponding support 10, causes the lever 35 to be tilted upwardly about A coil springs? isdi'sposed between.

are swung upwardly bythe movement of. the rods justablefby' fmean's of a turn-buckle 72., At the places where the was 66 pass through the tank 7 20, this tank is provided with riser-s73 for pre- -ducing engagement of the projections .35 with the lower end-of the corresponding actuating rod 66. The rod is thus moved upwardly through the tube '73 and causes theinner end of the corresponding lever arm 56 to engage the stop screw '70 while the medial portion of the lever arm 56 continuesto rise. Upward movement is thus imtop of the can 17 with. the seal .block 63,. and

liquid is admitted from the tank 2Qpast the valve23 to the can while air simultaneously escapes fromthe interior of the can past the screen 59", and through the hollow valve stem 55'. Thesplash plate .58 distributes theentering 1 liquid toward the walls of the can 1'7and thus permits escape of theair while the liquid is en'- tering and filling the can; l

a 'As the supports 10 approach theinclined track portion 33 nearest thedischargedisk 18, the

rollers 28 again travel downwardly and the secfunction to swing the levers 35idownwardly and awayfrom the rods "66, before the cans 17 move away from the blocks .63. The filled cans are subsequently dischargedfromthesupports 10 by the stationary guide 19 and the discharge disk'l8. 'From the. foregoing description it will be apondary track34 positively causes themto do so. j The supports and the cans 17 resting thereon are thus successively withdrawn from their seal blocks 63 and-l the valves 23 are closed by the springs 67 and by gravitygbefore the seals are ,actually broken, since the-springs wil1=first parent that the successivecans 17 are first sealed,

then filled and finallyunsealed and delivered H from themachine, quickly and automatically.

there are no telescopic joints between theftank supports 10, the support will merelybe elevated as indicated in Fig. 4 without bringing the cor- 20 and'the dispensing valves 23.. If the machine I ffailsto receive a can 17 on any of the advancing responding lever. 35 into engagement with the" valve actuating rod 66,;inasmuch asthe spring 30 isfnot compressed. A spring 30' will only be compressed when a can 17is interposed between its support 10mm the corresponding seal block 63. The screens 59 and the hollow ,valve stems cooperate with the splash plates, 58 to' V eflectively fill the cans 18 and to permit free delivery of the air therefrom, and the screens 59 are readily removable for cleaning by virtueof the fact that they. are normally held in placeby snap :rings 60. The secondary track 34 insures return ofthe supports 10 to the plane of the top advance around the fixed central axisof: the shaftlZ, and therollers 28 associated with. the

valves 23. The float 52 cooperates with "the supply valve 51 to insure an abundance of liquid within 'the supp ly tank 20, and the tubes '73 permit extension of the rods 66 through the tank d 20 near the centralaxis of the machineQfwithout danger of leakage.

It will also be apparent thatthemachine may be readily adjusted to accommodate cans of vaaidof the turn-buckles '72, andof the stop screws and pins 69; The entire machine is comparaa 3 tively simple and compact in construction, and

all portions of themechanism are readily accessi ble for inspection and cleaning. All of' the moving parts are operable from. a common 'drive shaft '78 so that when the lever 81' is thrown :in either direction the machine iseither stopped or started. It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and describedror various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons slcilledin .the'art.

It. is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent? 1. In combination, a series of can supports movable about an axis, a liquid supply tank disposed above said" suppcrts, a valve for controlling delivery ofliquid from said tank toward each of said supports, a sealing bloclz disposed adjacent to each of valves; means for elevating said supports to bring the cans carried thereby into contact with said blocks, m ans forpern'iitting relative displacement of aid supports and said elevating means when cans are seated against said blocks, and means for utilizing said relative displacement to actuate said valves.

2. In combination, a series of. can supports movable about an axis, a liquid. supply tank 0 s posed above said supports, a valve for controll delivery of li uid from said tanktoward each of said supports, alsealing block disposed adjacent to each of said valves, means for elevating said supports tobring the cans carried thereby into contact with said blocks, a resilient connection between each of said supports and itselev'ating means for permitting relative di placement between these elements when a can carried by said support engages the corresponding seal block, and means for utilizing said relative displacement to ctuate said valves. I

' 3. In combination, an annular series of verti cally movable can supports revolvable about an axis, a liquid supply ta -kdisposed above and revolvable about said axis with said supports, a valve controlling delivery'of liquidfromeaid tank toward each of said supports, a resilient can top sealing block disposed adjacent to each of said valves, m ans for elevating said supports in succession to bring the cans carried thereby intosealing engagement with the corresponding blocks, means for permitting relative displaceincnt of said elevating means and saidsupports when sealing engagement has been effected, and motion transmitting mechanism operable by said relative displacement to actuate said. valves.

4. In combination, an a. ular series of verticallymovable can supports revolva'ole about an axis, a liquid supply tanl: disposed above and revolvable about said'axis with said supports, a valve for controlling delivery of liquid from said tank toward each of said supports, aresilient can top sealing block disposed adjacent to each of each of orifices, a

said valves, means for elevating said supportsin succession-to bring the cans carried. therebyinto sealing engagement with the corresponding blocks, means for permitting relative displaceinent of said elevating means-and said supports when sealing engagement has been eiiected, and means for utilizing said relative displacement to actuate said valves.

track portion to move said supports toward said orifices, av spring connection between each 'of said rods and the corresponding can support for permitting relative displacement of these elements when a can carried by the support engages the correspondingpad, a lever movable by each or saidrods during said relative displacements, and means'operable' by each of said levers for effecting delivery of liquid from said tank through said-orifices. V

' 6. In combination, a lieuid supply tank having dispensing orifices and sealing pads adjacent thereto, a can support-located in proximity to track havin a raised portion, a rod 'slidably engaging each ofsaidsupports and having a roller coasting with said track, said rollers cooperating with said raised track portion to move said supports-toward said orifices, a spring connection betxve'en'each of, said rods an'dthc corresponding can support for permitting relative displacement of these elements when a can carried by the support engages the corresponding pad, and means for utilizing said relative displacement to effect delivery of liquid from saidlank' throughsaid orifices. f

7. In combination, a tankhaving a liquid dispensing valve, a can support located adjacent to said valve, a rod cooperablewitli said support through aspring'to movesaid support itoward valve, a lever movable directly by rod after the movement of said support has been arrested by said tank, and means fortransmitting motion'from said lever to said valve to open the latter.

. 8.'In combination, a tankhaving a liquid'dispensing valve,'a can support located adjacent to said valve, a rod cooperable with said support through a spring to move said support toward said valve,a lever movable directly by said rod after the movement of said supporthas been arrested by said tank, means for transmitting motion from said lever tosai'd valve to open the latter, and means for adjusting said motion transmitting means to varythe degree of opening of said valve.

FRANK D. CHAPMAN. 

